MAREADME.txt explains the layout of MA.xls, and MA.csv (xls signifies a MS Excel file, csv
signifies a comma separated variable file).

Use and Attribution: All data are free and may be distributed as long as no charge is imposed and
this readme file is included with the data.  If you use the data, please include this citation: David
Lublin and D. Stephen Voss. 2001.  "Federal Elections Project." American University,
Washington, DC and the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.  We would greatly appreciate it
if you would mail us hard copies of any paper written utilizing these data sets. You can send
copies to: David Lublin, Department of Government, School of Public Affairs, American
University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016. 

Funding for the Federal Elections Project was provided by the Political Science Program of the
Division of Social and Economic Sciences of the National Science Foundation (Award
#99-85999).  

Geography Identification:
STFIPS is the State FIPS Code (25 for Massachusetts).
CTYFIPS is the County FIPS Code.
CTYNAME is the county name.
TOWNNAME is the town name.
PRECCODE is the precinct number.
CD is the congressional district number (1-10)

Votes for President:
GORE is votes for Al Gore (Democrat).
BUSH is votes for George W. Bush (Republican).
NADER is votes for Ralph Nader (Massachusetts Green).
BROWNE is votes for Harry Browne (Libertarian).
BUCHANAN is votes for Pat Buchanan (Reform).
HAGELIN is votes for John Hagelin (Unenrolled).
PRESSCAT is votes for other candidates.
PRESBLNK is the number of blank ballots for president.
PRESOVER is over votes for president (ballots with votes for multiple candidates).

Votes for U.S. Senate:
KENNEDY is votes for Edward M. Kennedy (Democrat).
ROBINSON is votes for Jack E. Robinson, II (Republican).
HOWELL is votes for Carla A. Howell (Libertarian).
FRIEDGEN is votes for Dale E. Friedgen (Unenrolled).
HYDE is votes for Philip Hyde, III (Timesizing Not Downsizing).
LAWLER is votes for Philip F. Lawler (Constitution).
SENSCAT is votes for other candidates.
SENBLANK is the number of blank ballots for senator.
SENOVER is over votes for senator (ballots with votes for multiple candidates).

Votes for U.S. House:
CONGDEM is votes for the Democratic candidate.
     John Olver in District 1.
     Richard Neal in District 2.
     James McGovern in District 3.
     Barney Frank in District 4.
     Martin Meehan in District 5.
     John Tierney in District 6.
     Edward Markey in District 7.
     Michael Capuano in District 8.
     (John) Joseph Moakley in District 9.
     William Delahunt in District 10.
CONGREP is votes for the Republican candidate.
     no candidates in Districts 2, 3, 5, 7, and 8.
     Peter Abair in District 1.
     Martin Travis in District 4.
     Paul McCarthy in District 6.
     Janet Jeghelian in District 9.
     Eric Bleicken in District 10.
CONGSCAT is votes for other candidates.
CONGBLNK is the number of blank ballots for representative.
CONGOVER is over votes for representative (ballots with votes for multiple candidates).